At 12:43 PM 3/19/1998 -0800, Gladwin Joseph wrote:>I guess even the Resurrection of Jesus can be explained in> naturalistic terms as is done by the demythologizers. But it> is amazing that God in Christ chose to reveal Himself> in the Resurrected Body to only a few. He could have> appeared in the Sanhedrin and probably converted the nation> of Isreal. However since GOD respects the freedom He gives> us His creatures HE apparently does not give us a knock> down proof for belief. >> Any comments?>

It has often been argued that God maintains an "epistemic distance" from
his creatures. Were he to appear directly to anyone, the awesome holiness
of his person would *compel* belief and submission. But compelled belief
and submission are not the kind of responses in which he delights.